Penndel Police Chief Leaves For New Job

Penndel Borough Police Department Chief Joseph Sciscio has resigned from his position for a new job in federal law enforcement.

Sciscio joined the borough police department on July 11, 2011 and has overseen the handful of part-time officers that patrol Penndel day and night. During his time, he has also worked on the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Task Force, which uncovers those who download child pornography.

“It has been my absolute pleasure to serve the many fine residents of Penndel and to serve side by side with the outstanding men and women of the police department,” Sciscio said in a statement.

Officer Sean Perry has been picked to be the officer-in-charge as the Council looks to hire a new chief.

The outgoing chief has overseen the department as it navigated opening a controversial new headquarters next to the cramped one-room police station in Borough Hall. After an outpouring of support from the community, the police department was saved from outsourcing to Middletown last year.

As in many small towns with limited police resources, Sciscio was often on the streets heading up investigations and responding to calls for service. It was not uncommon to see Sciscio working with police from Middletown or surrounding boroughs at crime scenes or investigating wrecks.

Sciscio began his career in the Bensalem Police Department in 1998. He left Bensalem before being hired to lead Penndel’s small police force. Recently, Sciscio and the Penndel agreed to a new contract that saw him making a little over $73,000 per year.